Continuing Education

Workforce Development
& Continuing Education

WPCC offers a variety of classes for professional training along with personal advancement and enjoyment both in seated classes and online through ed2go. These classes are designed to accommodate busy lifestyles and provide opportunities to quickly get skills or explore interests.

Upcoming courses are listed in our slideshow. Click or tap on a slide for a class description or to register.

Like A Printed Class Schedule?

Personal Enrichment classes will display a Sign Me Up or Register Now option. The Sign Me Up option will let us know your interest in receiving more information about the class once dates, times or fees have been established. Classes with the Register Now option have been scheduled with assigned dates, times and fees.

Current Class Schedule

Here are the classes scheduled for the current month at WPCC. You can see future class offerings by clicking either the Next button to move to the next month or by choosing a month and date and hitting the Go button.

Add A Class to Your Calendar

Want to set a reminder for a class on your phone, tablet, or computer’s calendar? It’s easy. Click the class name to read a description and register to attend. At the bottom, click the iCal link to add the class to your peraonal calendar.

Self-defense begins long before an attack happens. Knowing how to protect yourself is an important set of skills that everyone should have. Learn self-defense techniques to build your confidence as well as how to respond when you are faced with threatening situations. Your instructor will teach you evasive techniques and behaviors to help you avoid dangerous situations. Please wear comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Self-defense is all about using your smarts not your fists. In this 3 hour workshop, you will learn how to avoid being a target, how to prepare for a possible attack, how to keep a clear mind and how to use your natural strengths to retaliate effectively and decisively. Students will learn evasion maneuvers, blocks, releases, and strikes to use in case they ever do need to protect themselves. Ages 13 and up.

Here’s your opportunity to keep your car or truck in top shape this year! Learn the basics of maintaining your car or truck. Many of the fundamentals covered also apply to motorcycles, ATVs, mini bikes and go karts. Major topics include safety, gas engine fundamentals, mechanical fundamentals, batteries, fuel, oil, grease, fasteners, tools, various adjustments, regular maintenance (including oil, air and fuel filter changing), tire pressure, tire rotation and storage issues. College and instructor will provide safety equipment and a car to practice on. Students should wear closed toed shoes and work clothes.

Make Your Own Beer

Foothills Higher Education Center

2128 South Sterling Street

Morganton, NC28655

USA

Section: TBADate/Time: See BelowLocation: VariousFee: $125, includes the price of a beer-making kit

You're the brew master! Brew and bottle 5 gallons of craft beer while exploring the history of beer in the US and around the world. You'll gain all the basic knowledge to continue brewing and experimenting with various hops and grains at home (additional homebrew supplies available for purchase). Cost includes personal guidance from the staff at the Nook, all beer ingredients, bottles, caps, and personal labels. Plus the beer! Recommended text: How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right the First Time (Fourth Edition) by John J. Palmer. Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles must be worn.You're the brew master! Brew and bottle 5 gallons of craft beer while exploring the history of beer in the US and around the world. You'll gain all the basic knowledge to continue brewing and experimenting with various hops and grains at home (additional homebrew supplies available for purchase). Cost includes personal guidance from the staff at the Nook, all beer ingredients, bottles, caps, and personal labels. Plus the beer! Recommended text: How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right the First Time (Fourth Edition) by John J. Palmer. Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles must be worn.

In this class you will learn the basics of using Google Earth and use what you learn to explore the natural, historic and cultural history of Burke County. You will also learn how to create tracks in Google Earth and upload them to your GPS enabled smart device for navigation. No prior experience with Google Earth is necessary.

In this class you will learn how to access and use the Burke County GIS system to locate property, identify land use, zoning and related environmental and regulated characteristics of a parcel and use that information to help you make real estate purchase and land improvement decisions. No previous experience with GIS systems is required.

Beginner Mountain Bike Clinic

The Beginner Mountain Bike Clinic is designed to aid the new mountain biker or re-teach the avid rider how to become familiar with their bicycle, helmet, shoes and other riding accessories. The Clinic helps guide a rider into best trail riding practices while providing the rider skills that can be built upon to gain further intermediate and advanced riding skills and techniques. While the maneuvers, techniques and instructions taught are to aid a rider in trail riding, we encourage all riders to always practice the best safety they can while mountain biking. Mountain biking can be dangerous! Please inform family/friends where you’re riding, ride with a friend, make smart judgements, do not ride trails past your skill level and always wear a helmet!

Dancing Brooms

Before brooms became manufactured goods, brooms were made at home from what was available. Witch hazel, Scotch broom, corn husks and broom sedge have all been lashed to handles by savvy homemakers needing a tool to sweep the porch or scrub the floor. Join us at Western Piedmont Community College, where you will learn to make your own traditional Appalachian broom using broom corn. Not just any old broom you buy at the store, your handmade broom will be both beautiful and useful!

Round Brooms

Before brooms became manufactured goods, brooms were made at home from what was available. Witch hazel, Scotch broom, corn husks and broom sedge have all been lashed to handles by savvy homemakers needing a tool to sweep the porch or scrub the floor. Join us at Western Piedmont Community College, where you will learn to make your own traditional Appalachian broom using broom corn grown by the college's Sustainable Agriculture Program. Not just any old broom you buy at the store, your handmade broom will be both beautiful and useful!

What to Bring:

a sharp knife (pocket knife or box cutter)

old towel for your lap

If you have a favorite stick for your broom handle, bring it! (We will have some for purchase for $10)

If you have any special material you want to include in your broom, you are welcome to bring that as well!

Basics of Car Restoration

This is an introductory class intended to beginners who are considering getting into the hobby. Topics will include categories of restoration work such as body and paint, mechanical systems and disassembly and assembly. Also discussed is major factors to consider including tools, supplies, equipment, work space, time and costs. Instructor will review a recent restoration project including photos, lessons learned and cost breakdown. Many tips and tricks will be shared in addition to traps to be wary of. At the conclusion of the class participants will be better prepared to get started in the hobby and select and appropriate restoration project. Instructor has over 40 years of experience including over 10 full restorations.

Tai Chi Beginning for Arthritis

This is a safe and gentle form of exercise for any age and fitness level and is endorsed by the Arthritis Foundations worldwide as an effectiveway to manage arthritis discomfort. Learn a variety of gentle movements and Qigong exercises that can relieve pain and improve posture,circulation, concentration, balance, and stability. Wear comfortable clothing for movement.

Qigong is a system of self-care and self-healing that combines slow, gentle movement with breath and intention. Easy to learn, it excels at increasing energy and reducing stress. Combine stretches, flowing movements, standing postures, and healing sounds to create a calm, unhurried and focused mind. By the end, you’ll be able to easily access feelings of peace and clarity. Leave each session feeling deeply centered in your body, mind and spirit and ready to face life.

Our Locations

Western Piedmont Community College offers Continuing Education classes on the Main Campus (left pin on the map) and at the Foothills Higher Education Center (right pin on the map). Select a pin to get address and general contact information about each location.